Jamboree-On-The-Air, or JOTA is an annual event in which Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur(ham) Radio. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared via radio waves. A new version, Jamboree-on-the-Internet, JOTI, is held in conjunction with JOTA. Today, both events are held during the third full weekend in October.
Since 1958 when the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held, millions of Scouts have met each other through this event. Thousands of stations around the globe participate. If conditions are right, it is common to contact 100 Scouting countries during the weekend.
Members of the Girl Guides of Canada use the third weekend in February each year for Guides-On-The-Air (GOTA). This event is called Thinking Day on the Air (TDOTA) in all other Countries. TDOTA / GOTA first went on the air in 1985 to celebrate 75 years of Guiding in Canada, U.K, New Zealand, and Australia. This event is growing each year with more international participation.
No such international exchanges can pass without leaving philatelic traces. Over the years, commemorative covers and cancels have been issued. Specially marked postcard-size participation certificates and Scout JOTA QSL post cards are printed by many stations and countries. There is even an official JOTA Participants Card issued each year, and now JOTI QSL post cards. For Scout collectors, you are more likely to find QSL cards at a ham radio show or online auction than a stamp show.
A limited number of Scout related stamps and seals that show a computer or radio theme have also been issued over the years.